Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtisis an American television journalist, producer, narrator, and news anchor. He was also the host of a number of A&E crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files. Previously, he anchored CBS Morning News, and was the longtime anchor at WBBM-TV, the CBS-owned and -operated TV station in Chicago. Kurtis is currently the scorekeeper/announcer for NPR’s news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, as well as serving as the host of Through...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNews Anchor
Date of Birth21 September 1940
CityPensacola, FL
CountryUnited States of America
First of all, I'm a Midwesterner, being from Kansas, and Chicago is basically a big Midwestern cow town. It was built from the stockyards, and everyone is very friendly, and it's at the edge of the tallgrass prairie. There's just a good feel to it.
I have an affinity for Africa, especially East Africa, and Kansas looks very much like that.
My personal philosophy is I'm running a 100-yard dash, and I haven't reached the end.
If you're a producer, you always spend too much money because you want that shot - and you're willing to spend a bundle to get it.
That's the reason I left the networks. I wanted to write and report and coanchor.
There's room for a diversity of ages on television.
All vacations can come down to a few little moments - what do your remember when you're alone, totally relaxed and taken out of yourself to appreciate this other world.
I think I'm so old I'm in. We call it the 'Tony Bennett Syndrome.' For some reason, young people think I'm cool.
The one important thing you do as boss is you set the standard. The minute you go in and say 'we'll let it go this time,' you set a new standard, which is lower. So you cannot do that.
Choose something you like to do. I know its a cliche, and youve heard it over and over. But the reason is, youre going to have to work long and hard to achieve any success. You better like it or life is going to be terrible.
The most frightening interview I've ever done was with Dr. Lonnie Thompson of The Ohio State University on the subject of global warming.
I've been producing documentaries on global warming for 20 years and have seen the early warnings of extreme weather events come true.
People from small towns have to have their edges roughed up to get along in the world. But as a street reporter, you learn quickly.
Movie stars and singers never fully pass away because their images are replayed on film and recordings, over and over.